Ground contact device

ABSTRACT

A ground contact device having a module with at least a portion of the module&#39;s outer surface being curved. The ground contact device also having a planar surface, oriented in a plane parallel to a surface suitable for walking, on the module&#39;s inside surface. In addition, the planar surface contains a plurality of prosthetic mount holes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/750,494, filed Jan. 9, 2013, entitled Stump Armour, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, incorporated herein as part of thespecification, illustrate the presently disclosed subject matter, andwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosedsubject matter and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art tomake and use the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a ground contact device accordingto an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the encircled area designated 4 in FIG. 3,showing the roughened surface of the ground contact device.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a ground contact device accordingto an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the ground contact device accordingto FIG. 2, the ground contact device coupled to a relatively longprosthetic mount;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the ground contact device accordingto FIG. 2, the ground contact device coupled to a relatively shortprosthetic mount;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a ground contact device accordingto an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 12 is an end/side elevational view of a ground contact deviceaccording to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the ground contact device coupledto a relatively short prosthetic mount;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a ground contact device accordingto an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 18 is a cut away view of a ground contact device according to anembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of a ground contact device accordingto an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the ground contact deviceaccording to FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of a ground contact device accordingto an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, ground contact device 100 comprises module 101and module 109 attached to module 101. Module 101 defines openings 107.There may be any number of openings 107 and they may have any shape andarrangement. For example, the openings 107 may have any shape thatprovides access to the prosthetic mount for adjustments, including butnot limited to, shapes that are rectangular, square, triangular, orcircular. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, module 101 comprises planar surface103, which contains mount holes 105. As seen in FIG. 1, the mount holes105 in ground contact device 100 comprise a three by three squarepattern with four additional mount holes located around the three bythree square pattern, such that there is an additional mount holecentered on the outside of each side of the three by three pattern.Mount holes 105 may comprise any other suitable arrangement. Inaddition, mount holes 105 may be threaded for use with fasteners suchas, but not limited to, screws, or may be unthreaded for use withfasteners such as, but not limited to, bolts.

Modules 101 and 109 have a generally curved shape. Ground contact device100 depicted in FIG. 3 shows module 109 having a periphery coextensivewith the periphery of module 101 when planar surface 103 and planarsurface 113 are coupled. Modules 101 and 109 may have any suitable shapeor configuration with a rounded portion which can be rolled against asurface affording a substantially smooth transition between a positionwhere longitudinal axis 123, seen in FIG. 8, is parallel to a weightbearing surface, and a position where longitudinal axis 123 is normal toa weight bearing surface.

Ground contact device 200, seen in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, is similar toground contact device 100 in FIG. 1, except that ground contact device200 also includes coupler 211 comprising either prosthetic mount 217(FIG. 6) or prosthetic mount 221 (FIG. 7). Modules 201 and 209 areshown, in FIG. 6, to comprise coextensive peripheries.

FIG. 6 illustrates ground contact device 200 coupled to coupler 211including prosthetic mount 217 and Ferrier Coupler 219. A planar surface203 may be of any diameter which provides sufficient area to couplecoupler 211 to module 201. Planar surface 203 is represented asfour-and-one-quarter inches in diameter in embodiment 200. Planarsurface 203 may be oriented at any angle which allows coupler 211 tocouple to planar surface 203. Ground contact devices 100 and 200 may beidentical, except that ground contact device 200 includes coupler 211,prosthetic mount 217 and Ferrier Coupler 219 coupled to planar surface203.

As seen in FIG. 7, ground contact device 200 may be coupled to coupler211 including prosthetic mounts having varying lengths. Prosthetic mount217 and prosthetic mount 221 are interchangeable. Prosthetic mount 221is shorter than prosthetic mount 217, demonstrating that bilateralabove-knee amputees and robots with different length limbs may use theground contact device coupled to different length prosthetic mountswithout interfering in the performance of the ground contact device.

Modules 101 and 201 may have diameters of six-and-one-half inches attheir widest respective points, and modules 109 and 209 may havediameters of four-and-one-quarter inches at their widest respectivepoints. Modules 109 and 209 may be coupled to modules 101 and 201,respectively, by any suitable method, including but not limited to,adhesion, bonding, and mechanical fasteners, including but not limitedto, screws.

Modules 101 and 109 and modules 201 and 209, respectively, may also bemanufactured as a single component comprising either a single material,or more than one material. In the event that module 101/201 and module109/209 are manufactured as a single module, the single module may bemanufactured using additive manufacturing processes, machining, casting,forging, any other suitable method, or a combination of any suitablemethods. Modules 101/201 and 109/209 may also be manufactured separatelyusing additive manufacturing processes, machining, casting, forging, anyother suitable method, or a combination of any suitable methods.Additive manufacturing comprises inputting a template in digitalformat—which may be produced using computer aided design (“CAD”)software—into an additive manufacturing machine, which then interpretsthe input and deposits layers of material onto a platform to create athree dimensional rendering of the template. Module 101/201, and thesingle module comprising modules 101/201 and 109/209, may bemanufactured out of any material having the necessary characteristics tosupport the weight of a user using the ground contact device, includingbut not limited to, titanium, steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron,carbon fiber, and durable polymer materials. Module 109/209 may bemanufactured out of any material having suitable structural integritysuch as, but not limited to, foam, closed pore polyurethane, titanium,steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, carbon fiber, and durable polymermaterials.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of modules 101 and 109 showing a roughenedlayer, or outer surface, 125 of said modules. Roughened layer 125 may becreated by methods including but not limited to manipulating thematerial of pre-manufactured modules 101 and 109, removing material frommodules 101 and 109 to create depressions, affecting the cast used tomanufacture modules 101 and 109 to create depressions or projections, orby applying additional material to modules 101 and 109. Polymers, suchas those used in pickup truck beds, may be applied to modules 101 and109 to create the roughened layer. The roughened layer may also comprisea layer of tacky material that may be smooth or have depressions and/orprojections which may be comprised of material including but not limitedto smooth closed pore polyurethane.

FIG. 18 is a cut away view of a ground contact device 300, which issimilar to ground contact device 100 except as explained below. In thisembodiment, outer surfaces of modules 301 and 309 are wavy or have bumpsor nipples. Modules 301 and 309 need not have the same pattern of waves,bumps or nipples. Of course, either module 301 or module 309 can havewaves, bumps or nipples. Openings 307 are also depicted in FIG. 18.

As seen in FIGS. 6 & 7, the ground contact device may be used bycoupling prosthetic mount 217 or 221 to planar surface 203. Mount holes205 provide a way to couple prosthetic mount 217 or 221 to planarsurface 203 and allow for prosthetic mount 217 or 221 to be adjustedaccording to the needs of the user. Prosthetic mount 217 or 221 may becoupled to Ferrier coupler 219, which in turn may be coupled to asocket.

FIG. 5 depicts ground contact device 400, similar to ground contactdevice 100, having flange 415. Flange 415 is shown as a contiguousextension of module 401, and may be manufactured as a single componentwith module 401. Flange 415 may also be a component manufacturedseparate from module 401, and then later coupled to module 401 throughsuitable methods such as, but not limited to, welding. Flange 415 may bemanufactured out of materials including but not limited to foam, closedpore polyurethane, titanium, steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron,carbon fiber, and durable polymer materials.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show ground contact device 700 with attachment 701.Attachment 701 includes clamp 751 that attaches to module 701 by bolts754. Extending outwardly from clamp 751 and module 701 is a protrusion,such as spike 752. In FIG. 21, the protrusion is illustrated in the formof hook 752A. Of course, the protrusion can take any shape. Attachment701 may be employed to assist the wearer of ground contact device 700 totraverse terrain otherwise difficult or impossible with ground contactdevice 700. Examples might include mountain climbing or icetraversing/climbing.

Ground contact device 500 in FIGS. 10-14 comprises module 501 which isanalogous to module 101 of ground contact device 100. Module 501 has ashape that is partially cylindrical, with the longitudinal axis 530(FIG. 14) of the module normal to a weight bearing surface.

Ground contact device 600, in FIGS. 15-17, comprises module 601 which isanalogous to module 101 of ground contact device 100. Module 601 ispartially rounded and elongated along longitudinal axis 640 (FIG. 15).An elongated ground contact device, such as embodiment 600, may aid auser in transitioning from a prone position to a standing position. Themount holes 605 may be placed anywhere along the longitudinal axis 640such that the coupler 611 may be coupled to module 601.

Modules 101, 201, 401, 501 and 601 may consist of a number ofindependent members having partially curved surfaces which are connectedby, and to, planar surfaces 103, 203, 403, 503 and 603, respectively.Modules 501 and 601 may be manufactured out of any material having thenecessary characteristics to support the weight of a user using theground contact device, including but not limited to, titanium, steel,aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, carbon fiber, and durable polymermaterials. Modules 501 and 601 may be manufactured using additivemanufacturing processes, machining, casting, forging, any other suitablemethod, or a combination of any suitable methods.

The ground contact device may be used to transition the user from aprone or seated position to a standing position. The user may transitionfrom a seated or prone position by leveraging his/her torso, or body ofa machine in the case of robotic applications, over the ground contactdevice. This may be done by using an arm to push the user, or machine,over the ground contact device, while rolling, for example, modules 109and 101 (or the singular module) against the ground, creating frictionwhich holds the ground contact device in place and allows the user toposition their center of gravity over the ground contact device.

In this specification, “a” and “an” and similar phrases are to beinterpreted as “at least one” and “one or more.” References to “an”embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the sameembodiment. In this specification, “user” and similar phrases are to beinterpreted as any “animal,” “person,” “machine,” or “robot” coupled tothe ground contact device.

Many of the elements described in the disclosed embodiments may beimplemented as modules. A module is defined here as an isolatableelement that performs a defined function and has a defined interface toother elements. The modules described in this disclosure may beimplemented in hardware, a combination of hardware and software,firmware, wetware (i.e. hardware with a biological element) or acombination thereof, all of which are behaviorally equivalent.

The disclosure of this patent document incorporates material which issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, for the limited purposes required by law, butotherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example, and notlimitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevantart(s) that the disclosed subject matter may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacteristics thereof. The embodiments described above are thereforeto be considered in all respects as illustrative—not restrictive. Thescope of the disclosed subject matter is indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes whichcome within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein. In fact, after reading theabove description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevantart(s) how to implement alternative embodiments. Thus, the presentembodiments should not be limited by any of the above describedexemplary embodiments. However, one skilled in the art will recognizethat embodiments of the invention could comprise flange 415 having asquare or triangular shape.

In addition, it should be understood that any figures that highlight anyfunctionality and/or advantages, are presented for example purposesonly. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently flexible andconfigurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than thatshown. For example, the presently disclosed subject matter may be usedin conjunction with a machine or robot.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to enable theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, andespecially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art whoare not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determinequickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of thetechnical disclosure of the application. The Abstract of the Disclosureis not intended to be limiting as to the scope in any way.

Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that include theexpress language “means for” or “step for” be interpreted under 35U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6. Claims that do not expressly include the phrase“means for” or “step for” are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112,paragraph 6.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ground contact device, comprising: a firstmodule having at least a portion with a curved outer surface,comprising: a first planar surface in an interior of the first module,and a plurality of prosthetic mount holes located in the first planarsurface; and a second module coupled to the outside of the first planarsurface, comprising: a second planar surface having a peripherycoextensive with a periphery of the first planar surface; and at least aportion with a round shape.
 2. The ground contact device according toclaim 1, wherein the first module defines: a plurality of openingsthrough a wall of the first module.
 3. The ground contact deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of theprosthetic mount holes is threaded.
 4. The ground contact deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an outer layer ofthe first and second modules is roughened.
 5. The ground contact deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an outer layer ofthe first module is roughened.
 6. The ground contact device according toclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of an outer layer of the secondmodule is roughened.
 7. The ground contact device according to claim 1,wherein the first module comprises: a flange extending beyond a rim ofthe first module.
 8. The ground contact device according to claim 1,wherein the first module is at least partially cylindrical.
 9. Theground contact device according to claim 1, wherein the first module isat least partially elliptical in shape.
 10. The ground contact deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a prosthetic mount coupled tothe first planar surface.
 11. The ground contact device according toclaim 1, further comprising: a Ferrier Coupler coupled to the firstplanar surface.
 12. The ground contact device according to claim 8,further comprising; a Ferrier Coupler coupled to the prosthetic mount.13. A ground contact device, comprising: a module having at least aportion with a curved outer surface, comprising: a planar surface insidethe module, the planar surface oriented in a plane normal to alongitudinal axis of the module, and a plurality of prosthetic mountholes located in the planar surface.
 14. The ground contact deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the module defines: a plurality of slitsthrough a wall of the module.
 15. The ground contact device according toclaim 13, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the prostheticmount holes is threaded.
 16. The ground contact device according toclaim 13, wherein at least a portion of an outer layer of the module isroughened.
 17. The ground contact device according to claim 13, whereinthe first module comprises: a flange extending beyond a rim of themodule.
 18. The ground contact device according to claim 13, furthercomprising: a prosthetic mount coupled to the planar surface.
 19. Theground contact device according to claim 13, further comprising: aFerrier Coupler coupled to the planar surface.
 20. The ground contactdevice according to claim 18, further comprising; a Ferrier Couplercoupled to the prosthetic mount.
 21. A method for manufacturing a groundcontact device comprising: obtaining a template of a module having atleast a portion with a curved outer surface, the module comprising: aplanar surface in an interior of the module, and a plurality ofprosthetic mount holes located in the planar surface; and using anadditive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the module from thetemplate.
 22. A method for using a ground contact device, comprising:attaching a ground contact device to a prosthetic mount, the groundcontact device comprising: a module having at least a portion with acurved outer surface, comprising: a planar surface in an interior of themodule, and a plurality of prosthetic mount holes located in the planarsurface; attaching the prosthetic mount to a Ferrier coupler; andattaching the Ferrier coupler to a socket.
 23. The method according toclaim 22, wherein a user using the ground contact device transitions theuser's legs from a position substantially parallel to a surface, to aposition substantially perpendicular to the surface.
 24. The methodaccording to claim 23, wherein the curved outer surface of the groundcontact device is rolled against a support to change the position of theuser's legs.
 25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the curvedouter surface of the ground contact device is rolled against a surfaceto change the position of the user's legs.
 26. The ground contact deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the first moduleand/or second module includes waves, bumps or nipples.
 27. The groundcontact device according to claim 1, further comprising an attachmentcoupled to the first module, the attachment including a protrusionextending outwardly from the first module.